Drapery with concealed pockets for weights



Dec. 21, 1965 c. 1.. TRUESDALE 3,224,495

DRAPERY WITH CONCEALED POGKETS FOR WEIGHTS Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet l El U E] E :1 E1 E1 E1 [1 1:1 [3 j K "\l l I Q I 1; U f Q13 FIG- 2 CAVOUR L.TRUESDALE INVENTOR.

AGENT 1965 c. L. TRUESDALE DRAPERY WITH CONCEALED POCKETS FOR WEIGHTS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 CAVOUR LVTRUESDALE INVENTOR- BY [MWAGENT United States Patent 3,224,495 DRAPERY WITH CONCEALED POCKETS FORWEIGHTS Cavour L. Truesdale, Richmond, Va, assignor to Plastic Products,Incorporated, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Aug. 30,1963, fier. No. 305,678 9 Claims. (Cl. 160349) This invention relates toa novel drapery construction and more particularly, to the constructionof a novel structure along the lower margin of a drapery providingconcealed pockets for weights.

In recent years, decorative draperies have been extensively used inschools, churches, and clubs where the fact that they can be made fromnearly opaque materials confers certain advantages. Important amongthese advantages is that opaque draperies are especially useful incontrolling the amount of daylight admitted to rooms where visualeducation methods such as motion pictures are frequently used.

In order properly to function as a daylight controlling means, a draperymust be constructed so that its lower margin will hang in place andresist disturbance by air currents. Weights are commonly afiixed to thelower margins of draperies for this purpose.

There are two principal forms of conventional drapery construction whichmake provision for such weights. In one form of construction, weightsare imprisoned in a hem made along the lower margin of the drapery. Theprincipal disadvantages of this form of construction are: (1) The totalamount of weight is fixed when the weights are installed and, theprocess of opening and re-making the hem to change the amount of weightwould be inconvenient on the users premises. (2) The built-in weightswould greatly increase the weight of the drapery when boxed forshipment.

The other principal form of conventional drapery construction providestop-opening pockets formed along the lower margin o the drapery forholding removable weights. It is an improvement in this general type ofdrapery using removable weights which is the subject of the presentinvention.

The principal disadvantage of conventional drapery con struction usingtop-opening pockets for weights is that, when such draperies are used inschools, churches, and other buildings where children congregate, thefact that such pockets are visible and that the weights are readilyaccessible usually results in the loss of the weights, and often resultsin the tearing or ripping of the pockets as Well. For this reason alone,there exists a great need for a novel drapery construction which wouldallow the number of weights to be changed after installation on theusers premises, but which would make it diificult for children to locateand remove the weights.

Another disadvantage of conventional drapery construction usingtop-opening pockets for weights is that dust, dirt, and water collect insuch pockets. A novel drapery construction providing concealed pocketswould also overcome this problem.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a draperyconstruction having concealed pockets for weights.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drapery constructioncomprising concealed pockets for weights which cannot be seen and which,therefore, tend to overcome the problem of pilferage of weights byschool children and the accompanying tearing and n'pping of the pockets.v

A still further object of this invention is to provide a draperyconstruction having concealed pockets for weights without top openingsin which dust, dirt, or water can collect.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exaggerated perspective view of the front and the lowercorner edge of a drapery incorporating the construction of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the construction of FIGURE 1 with aportion broken away to illustrate the position of a typical weight.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sectional view illustrating certainstructural details of the construction of the concealed pockets with theweights not shown.

FIGURE 3A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the innerpanel showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown inFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3B is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the mainpanel showing another alternative modification of the structure shown inFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the mainpanel showing an alternative modification of the structure shown inFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the innerpanel showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown inFIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 1, numeral 1 designates the main drapery panel. Disposedagainst the back of the main panel 1 near its lower margin is strip 2which serves as an inner liner for the concealed pockets for weights.Short upstanding strip 4 is connected to panel 1 along a line 3 near thelower margin of panel 1. Upstanding strip 4 terminates in a free edge 5spaced far enough above line 3 to define a concealed pocket 6 betweenstrip 4 and strip 2 deep enough to hold a conventional curtain weight.

Upstanding strip 7 and enclosing strip 8 are disposed, respectively, inthat order, in overlying relationship to strip 2 and strip 4. Upstandingstrip 7 may be a separate strip sealed along its lower margin to thelower margin of strip 3, or, alternatively, strip 7 may be formed bymaking a reverse bend in the lower part of strip 8, as shown, andturning up enough material to form upstanding strip 7. Upstanding strip7 terminates in a free edge 9 near free edge 5. Concealed pocket 10 isdefined between panel 7 and strip 8. There is a concealed opening 11between panels 4 and 7 communicating with pockets 6 and 10.

The upper portions of strip 8 may be connected to panel 1 at points 12along a line substantially parallel to and spaced a suitable distanceabove the lower margin of panel 1. Connections 12 can be of anyconfiguration or they can merge into a continuous line of attachmentalthough this latter choice ofi'ers less resistance to tearing than doseparate connections. It is not essential, however, that strip 8 bejoined to main panel 1 in this fashion. An arrangement wherein strip 2is connected to panel 1 while strip 8 is connected only to strip 2 wouldserve the essential function of providing an enclosure for concealedpockets 6 and 10.

In FIGURE 2, the rear elevation shows a portion of strip 8 broken awayto show a typical weight 13 resting in a concealed pocket 10 formed by aplurality of laterally spaced connections 14 which join strip 2, strips4 and 7 and strip 8 in FIGURE 1. The free edge 9 of upstanding strip 7is seen above weight 13 where strip 8 has been broken away. Weight 13equally well could be resting in one of the inner concealed pockets 6between upstanding strip 4 and strip 2 formed by laterally spacedconnections 14, but in such case, it would not be shown by solid linesunless upstanding strips 4 and 7 were also broken away.

The purpose served by the laterally spaced connections 14 is simply todivide the structure into a plurality of concealed pockets laterallyspaced along the lower margin of the drapery. The function of strip 2,serving as an inner liner for the assembly containing the concealedpockets, is to permit the laterally spaced connections 14 to divide theentire structure into a plurality of individual pockets designed toprevent lateral movement of weights. If strip 2 were omitted,connections 14 could join strips 4, 7, and 8 only, or these connectionscould join strips 4, 7, 8, and panel 1. If the connections 14 carrythrough to panel 1, the pattern of the connections will be visible onthe front side of the drapery. In any of the structures shown in thedrawings, strip 2 may be omitted if desired.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of a draperyshowing the preferred embodiment, also shown in FIGURE 1, wherein likenumerals designate like structures. The laterally spaced connections 14not shown in this view may join strip 8, upstanding strips 4 and 7 andstrip 2, or, alternately, if the pattern of connections 14 would not marthe appearance of the lower portion of the front of the drapery, strip 2may be omitted and these connections 14 may join strip 8, upstandingstrips 4 and 7, and panel 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a simplified structure in which upstanding strip 4 andstrip 8 are employed to define the concealed opening 11 communicatingwith the concealed pocket 6 between strip 4 and panel 1. In thisconnection, the lower margin of strip 4 is connected to the lower marginof panel 1. Alternatively, strip 4 could be formed by making a reversebend along the lower margin of panel 1 and turning up a short strip ofmaterial. The upper portion of strip 8 is connected to panel 1 at pointsalong a line spaced a suitable distance above the lower margin ofpanel 1. As in FIGURE 3, the laterally spaced connections 14, not shown,may connect strip 2, strip 8, and upstanding strip 4 or, alternatively,if strip 2 is omitted. connections 14 may join strip 8, strip 4, andpanel 1.

FIGURE shows still another simplified structure in which strip 8 andupstanding strip 7 are employed to define pocket 10 communicating withconcealed opening 11 between strip 7 and panel 1. In this construction,upstanding strip 7 is formed by making a reverse bend along the lowermargin of strip 8 and turning up a short strip of material, therebydefining pocket 10. The upper portion of strip 8 is connected to panel 1at points along a line spaced a suitable distance above the lower marginof panel 1. As in FIGURE 4, the laterally spaced connections 14, notshown, may connect strip 2, upstanding strip 7, and strip 8, or,alternatively, if strip 2 is omitted, connections 14 may join strip 8,strip 7, and panel 1.

FIGURE 3A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of inner panel8 showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown in FIG.3 in which inner panel 8 has no reverse fold and upstanding strip 7A isa separate strip of plastic which is attached to panel 8 on a line ofjuncture near the bottom margin of panel 8.

FIGURE 3B is a vertical sectional View of the lower part of main panel 1showing an alternative modification of the structure shown in FIGURE 3in which said main panel 1 terminates in a reverse fold and said reversefold terminates in an upstanding strip 4A in lieu of separate strip 4 asshown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of main panel 1showing an alternative modification of the structure shown in FIGURE 4in which said main panel 1 terminates in a reverse fold and said reversefold terminates in an upstanding strip 4A in lieu of separate strip 4 asshown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of inner panel8 showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown inFIGURE 5 in which inner panel 8 has no reverse fold and upstanding strip7A is a separate strip of plastic which is attached to panel 8 on a lineof juncture near the bottom margin of panel 8.

The essence of this invention is the novel solution to the problem ofproviding a drapery structure having pockets for individual weights,constructed in such a manner that weights can easily be added to thedrapery after installation on the users premises, while also providingfor the concealment of such weights so that the condition of their beingunattached to the drapery is not readily discernable, and also providinga structure which makes it difficult to remove such Weights from thedrapery. The concept which distinguishes this invention from the priorart comprises the provision of concealed pockets hidden in a novelstructure along the lower margin of a drapery in such fashion as to beaccessible only via concealed openings in said structure.

It is precisely this combination of concealed openings for insertion ofindividual weights communicating with concealed interior pockets coveredby an enclosing strip, which provides the sorely needed solution to theproblem of overcoming pilferage of weights while still retaining theadvantages inherent in using unattached individual weights.

It is expressly stipulated that any of the strips of material employedin the construction of the novel structure of this invention may be aturned up portion, formed by means of a reverse bend, of an adjacentstrip, or of the main panel itself, when this is the adjacent member.

What I claim is:

1. A drapery construction of the type having a hem provided withopenings therein for insertion of weights comprising a main panel havinga bottom edge, an inner panel having an upper margin, and a lowermargin, said inner panel being disposed against said main panel, saidupper margin being attached to said main panel at points on a linespaced above said bottom edge, said lower margin terminating in areverse fold, said reverse fold terminating in an upstanding striphaving a first free edge disposed between said inner panel and said mainpanel, an intermediate panel having a top margin and a bottom margin,said intermediate panel being disposed between said upstanding strip andsaid main panel, said bottom margin being attached to said main panel atpoints on a line of juncture near the bottom edge of said main panel,said top margin terminating in a second free edge spaced close to saidfirst free edge, and a buffer panel disposed between said intermediatepanel and said main panel and being attached to said main panel; saidinner panel, said upstanding strip, said intermediate panel, and saidbufier panel being joined at intervals throughout their lengths atpoints on a plurality of substantially vertical lines of attachment, thelower margin of said inner panel being substantially on a line with thelower margin of said intermediate panel, thereby forming a first seriesof concealed pockets for weights between said inner panel and saidupstanding strip, said first series pockets having openings definedbetween said first free edge and said inner panel, and a second seriesof concealed pockets for weights between said intermediate panel andsaid buffer panel, said second series pockets having openings. definedbetween said second free edge and said buffer panel, said lines ofattachment defining bottom openings in said hem for insertion of weightsbetween said up standing strip and said intermediate panel.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said intermediate panel is theterminal portion of a second reverse fold formed at the bottom edge ofsaid main panel.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said reverse fold is omitted and aseparate upstanding strip having an margin, said intermediate panelbeing disposed between said inner panel and said main panel, said lowermargin being attached to said main panel at points on a line near saidbottom edge, said upper margin terminating in a free edge, and a bufferpanel disposed between said intermediate panel and said main panel andbeing attached to said main panel; said inner panel, said intermediatepanel, and said butler panel being joined at intervals through theirlengths at points on a plurality of substantially vertical lines ofattachment, the lower margin of said inner panel being substantially ona line with the lower margins of said intermediate panel, therebyforming a plurality of concealed pockets for weights between saidintermediate panel and said buffer panel, said pockets having openingsdefined between said free edge and said bufier panel, said lines ofattachment defining bottom openings in said hem between said inner paneland said intermediate panel.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said intermediate panel is theterminal portion of a reverse fold formed at the bottom edge of saidmain panel.

7. A drapery construction of the type having a hem provided withopenings therein for insertion of weights comprising a main panel havinga bottom edge, an inner panel having an upper margin and a lower margin,said inner panel being disposed against said main panel, said uppermargin being attached to said main panel at points on a line spacedabove said bottom edge, said lower margin terminating in a reverse fold,said reverse fold terminating in an upstanding strip having a free edgedisposed between said inner panel and said main panel, and a bufferpanel disposed between said upstanding strip and said main panel andbeing attached to said main panel; said inner panel, said upstandingstrip, and said bufler panel being joined at intervals throughout theirlengths at points on a plurality of substantially vertical lines ofattachment, the lower margin of said inner panel being substantially ona line with the lower margin of said main panel, thereby forming aplurality of concealed pockets for weights between said inner panel andsaid upstanding strip, said pockets having openings defined between saidfree edge and said inner panel, said lines of attachment defining bottomopenings in said hem for insertion of weights between said upstandingstrip and said buffer panel.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said reverse fold is omitted and aseparate upstanding strip having an upper and a lower margin is disposedbetween said inner panel and said main panel, the lower margin of saidupstanding strip being attached to said inner panel at points on a lineof juncture near the lower margin of said inner panel.

9. A drapery construction of the type having a hem provided withopenings therein for insertion of weights comprising a main panel havinga bottom edge, an inner panel having an upper margin and a lower margin,said inner panel being disposed against said main panel, said uppermargin being attached to said main panel at points on a line spacedabove said bottom edge, a strip of material disposed between said innerpanel and said main panel, and a butler panel disposed between saidstrip and said main panel and being attached to said main panel; saidinner panel, said strip, and said buffer panel being joined at intervalsthroughout their lengths at points on a plurality of substantiallyvertical lines of attachment, the lower margin of said inner panel beingsubstantially on a line with the lower margin of said strip, said stripcooperating with said inner panel and said buffer panel to define aplurality of concealed pockets on one side of said strip, said lines ofattachment defining bottom openings in said hem for insertion of weightsalong the other side of said strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,595 6/1910Smith.

1,828,678 10/ 1931 Peterman et a1 160-349 1,936,198 11/1933 Kirsch 2-273X 2,359,372 10/1944 Leader -1 2,777,575 1/ 1957 Chamberlin 206-832,817,850 12/1957 Barbour et a1.

2,921,731 1/ 1960 Volckening et al 206-56 3,015,918 1/1962 Schoen 206-46X 3,084,738 4/ 1963 Truesdale -330 3,107,361 10/1963 Glutting 4-149HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DRAPERY CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYPE HAVING A HEM PROVIDED WITHOPENINGS THEREIN FOR INSERTION OF WEIGHTS COMPRISING A MAIN PANEL HAVINGA BOTTOM EDGE, AN INNER PANEL HAVING AN UPPER MARGIN, AND A LOWERMARGIN, SAID INNER PANEL BEING DISPOSED AGAINST SAID MAIN PANEL, SAIDUPPER MARGIN BEING ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN PANEL AT POINTS ON A LINESPACED ABOVE SAID BOTTOM EDGE, SAID LOWER MARGIN TERMINATING IN AREVERSE FOLD, SAID REVERSE FOLD TERMINATING IN AN UPSTANDING STRIPHAVING A FIRST FREE EDGES DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INNER PANEL AND SAIDMAIN PANEL, AN INTERMEDIATE PANEL HAVING A TOP MARGIN AND A BOTTOMMARGIN, SAID INTERMEDIATE PANEL BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID UPSTANDINGSTRIP AND SAID MAIN PANEL, SAID BOTTOM MARGIN BEING ATTACHED TO SAIDMAIN PANEL AT POINTS ON A LINE OF JUNCTURE NEAR THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAIDMAIN PANEL, SAID TOP MARGIN TERMINATING IN A SECOND FREE EDGE SPACEDCLOSE TO SAID FIRST FREE EDGE, AND A BUFFER PANEL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAIDINTERMEDIATE PANEL AND SAID MAIN